Is It Worth It?
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,189
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From: Washington
Is It Worth It?
Seems like almost all of us like to complain about Harley Davidson's new bike prices for the big twins. Many declare 'its not worth it'. Ok, you decide...here is a comparison. Harley recently announced the Low Rider ST El Diablo at $28k plus fees, surcharge etc. The bike looks very similar to the FXRT they produced in the 80's and 90's. I bought one brand new in the fall of 1990, so lets compare:
1990 FXRT - cost was $10,500. It included a small Factory tourpak, front crash bars, and I had the dealer add a pair of fog lights. Sales taxes and license were extra.
2022 Low Rider ST El Diablo - cost of $28,000 plus shipping, surcharge, maybe a markup. Tax and license are extra, just like the FXRT.
So how do they compare? If the $10,500 is inflated into today's dollars, its equal to $23,800. The actual cost difference between the 2 bikes is about $6200, but let's round that off to seven grand. So what are you getting for your extra $7000?
A much bigger engine - 80 vs 117 cu in. An eight valve head and valve train. An oil cooler. A six speed transmission. Fuel injection. A much better braking system. Cruise control(?).
I liked my old FXRT, at the time. A fun bike that met my needs well, and I wish I still had it. But there is no way that FXRT could of been brought up to ST El Diablo standards for $7000, or so.
New Harleys have always been expensive. After I got out of college, in 1979, I briefly considered getting a new FLH for about $6,000, as I recall. Today that would be about $24,500. The technology differences with that old Shovelhead would even be greater than with the FXRT, mentioned above. I bought a used 750 Honda for $1500 and was very happy with it for several years. The first hew Harley didn't come until 1990.
1990 FXRT - cost was $10,500. It included a small Factory tourpak, front crash bars, and I had the dealer add a pair of fog lights. Sales taxes and license were extra.
2022 Low Rider ST El Diablo - cost of $28,000 plus shipping, surcharge, maybe a markup. Tax and license are extra, just like the FXRT.
So how do they compare? If the $10,500 is inflated into today's dollars, its equal to $23,800. The actual cost difference between the 2 bikes is about $6200, but let's round that off to seven grand. So what are you getting for your extra $7000?
A much bigger engine - 80 vs 117 cu in. An eight valve head and valve train. An oil cooler. A six speed transmission. Fuel injection. A much better braking system. Cruise control(?).
I liked my old FXRT, at the time. A fun bike that met my needs well, and I wish I still had it. But there is no way that FXRT could of been brought up to ST El Diablo standards for $7000, or so.
New Harleys have always been expensive. After I got out of college, in 1979, I briefly considered getting a new FLH for about $6,000, as I recall. Today that would be about $24,500. The technology differences with that old Shovelhead would even be greater than with the FXRT, mentioned above. I bought a used 750 Honda for $1500 and was very happy with it for several years. The first hew Harley didn't come until 1990.
Popular Reply
Sep 3, 2022, 04:47 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,050
Likes: 19,177
From: The Wasteland
For me it comes down to disposable income. Do you make enough money to be able to drop $25-$30k for a toy and still be able to easily afford a comfortable life? If so then yeah maybe its worth it.
Me, I dont have that kind of coin laying around. Im comfortable and make a good living but my wife doesnt work so Im the only one bringing in money. I have owned dozens of bikes and a bunch of Harleys but Ive only ever owned one brand new HD and it was a Sporty.
As for me I prefer to save up some cash and buy a garage queen thats got a couple years and a few thousand miles on it. I dont need the latest gizmos and bells and whistles. As long as I get a grin on my face when I sink into that saddle I dont care about new or used.
Me, I dont have that kind of coin laying around. Im comfortable and make a good living but my wife doesnt work so Im the only one bringing in money. I have owned dozens of bikes and a bunch of Harleys but Ive only ever owned one brand new HD and it was a Sporty.
As for me I prefer to save up some cash and buy a garage queen thats got a couple years and a few thousand miles on it. I dont need the latest gizmos and bells and whistles. As long as I get a grin on my face when I sink into that saddle I dont care about new or used.
Last edited by Bubba Zanetti; Sep 3, 2022 at 04:48 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,922
Likes: 3,056
From: USA
They are worth it. If they weren't people would be spending their money elsewhere. Some people just like to complain.
There's always the used market if you can't (or won't) buy new. Lots of garage queens out there.
There's always the used market if you can't (or won't) buy new. Lots of garage queens out there.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 3,071
From: South of Boston, MA
I had friends that had Harleys in 80s & they always had problems with them
Oil leaks, would not start etc, one guy even threw his knee out when tried to kick start it & it "threw back" ??
For a long time this was the story & trying to buy a new one meant $$ down & waiting a year or so for delivery
As a result of this I simply wrote Harley off the list & never even considered purchasing one
1st bike was a 100c $300 learner bike, sold for $300 & bought a Honda 360T $600, sold for $600 & bought a Yamaha 750 that the guy just rebuilt the engine
This was my 1st year. I rode that bike up & down the East Coast, it had ~45k miles when I sold it. Only thing that ever failed was a Voltage Reg
Sold it & bought a Yamaha 1100s brand new for $2700 -1981 leftover model
Traded it in on a 88 Suzuki Intruder 1400 (new), again not that much $$ brand new $3k w/trade
Traded that in on a 96 Honda ACE Shadow w/less then 3k miles with my trade it was about $2k
Traded that in on a 2014 Honda 750 Spirit(new), $6k w/trade
Add up all the bikes in 40 years of riding & I spent less than $14k
Buying my 2019 Fat Boy for more than all those bikes together, Totally worth it
Would I spend more than $20k on a bike ?
Probably not while living in MA, I looked for 2 years before I found the Harley I wanted at the price I wanted & with low mileage (1265)
Further South or West where the riding season is longer its then like a 2nd car almost all year long
I feel almost "stuck" in New England as I have travelled around here a lot
Lots out West I would like to see
Oil leaks, would not start etc, one guy even threw his knee out when tried to kick start it & it "threw back" ??
For a long time this was the story & trying to buy a new one meant $$ down & waiting a year or so for delivery
As a result of this I simply wrote Harley off the list & never even considered purchasing one
1st bike was a 100c $300 learner bike, sold for $300 & bought a Honda 360T $600, sold for $600 & bought a Yamaha 750 that the guy just rebuilt the engine
This was my 1st year. I rode that bike up & down the East Coast, it had ~45k miles when I sold it. Only thing that ever failed was a Voltage Reg
Sold it & bought a Yamaha 1100s brand new for $2700 -1981 leftover model
Traded it in on a 88 Suzuki Intruder 1400 (new), again not that much $$ brand new $3k w/trade
Traded that in on a 96 Honda ACE Shadow w/less then 3k miles with my trade it was about $2k
Traded that in on a 2014 Honda 750 Spirit(new), $6k w/trade
Add up all the bikes in 40 years of riding & I spent less than $14k
Buying my 2019 Fat Boy for more than all those bikes together, Totally worth it
Would I spend more than $20k on a bike ?
Probably not while living in MA, I looked for 2 years before I found the Harley I wanted at the price I wanted & with low mileage (1265)
Further South or West where the riding season is longer its then like a 2nd car almost all year long
I feel almost "stuck" in New England as I have travelled around here a lot
Lots out West I would like to see
Last edited by DaveyFB; Sep 3, 2022 at 01:59 PM. Reason: spelling
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
The question shouldnt be is a harley worth it, the question should be is a full sized cruiser or Bagger worth it.
Because no matter who makes it, these bikes are always expensive.
Indian's TS116/111TriCam DynasChief 2.0 are consistantly 500 to 2000$ more for the same bike you get from Harley.
Remember that BMW R18? Well it was roughly equivilent to the Softail Slim when HD still made it, and the Slim was 16000$ and the BMW R18 was $19,870. Over 3000$ more, but the Slim had floorboards, better rider ergonomics and an easy to upgrade engine.
Anyone who makes anything that inhabit the 650lb+ big cruiser and bagger market is making something expensive.
Because no matter who makes it, these bikes are always expensive.
Indian's TS116/111
Remember that BMW R18? Well it was roughly equivilent to the Softail Slim when HD still made it, and the Slim was 16000$ and the BMW R18 was $19,870. Over 3000$ more, but the Slim had floorboards, better rider ergonomics and an easy to upgrade engine.
Anyone who makes anything that inhabit the 650lb+ big cruiser and bagger market is making something expensive.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,050
Likes: 19,177
From: The Wasteland
For me it comes down to disposable income. Do you make enough money to be able to drop $25-$30k for a toy and still be able to easily afford a comfortable life? If so then yeah maybe its worth it.
Me, I dont have that kind of coin laying around. Im comfortable and make a good living but my wife doesnt work so Im the only one bringing in money. I have owned dozens of bikes and a bunch of Harleys but Ive only ever owned one brand new HD and it was a Sporty.
As for me I prefer to save up some cash and buy a garage queen thats got a couple years and a few thousand miles on it. I dont need the latest gizmos and bells and whistles. As long as I get a grin on my face when I sink into that saddle I dont care about new or used.
Me, I dont have that kind of coin laying around. Im comfortable and make a good living but my wife doesnt work so Im the only one bringing in money. I have owned dozens of bikes and a bunch of Harleys but Ive only ever owned one brand new HD and it was a Sporty.
As for me I prefer to save up some cash and buy a garage queen thats got a couple years and a few thousand miles on it. I dont need the latest gizmos and bells and whistles. As long as I get a grin on my face when I sink into that saddle I dont care about new or used.
Last edited by Bubba Zanetti; Sep 3, 2022 at 04:48 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,438
From: SW WA.
The question shouldnt be is a harley worth it, the question should be is a full sized cruiser or Bagger worth it.
Because no matter who makes it, these bikes are always expensive.
Indian's TS116/111TriCam DynasChief 2.0 are consistantly 500 to 2000$ more for the same bike you get from Harley.
Remember that BMW R18? Well it was roughly equivilent to the Softail Slim when HD still made it, and the Slim was 16000$ and the BMW R18 was $19,870. Over 3000$ more, but the Slim had floorboards, better rider ergonomics and an easy to upgrade engine.
Anyone who makes anything that inhabit the 650lb+ big cruiser and bagger market is making something expensive.
Because no matter who makes it, these bikes are always expensive.
Indian's TS116/111
Remember that BMW R18? Well it was roughly equivilent to the Softail Slim when HD still made it, and the Slim was 16000$ and the BMW R18 was $19,870. Over 3000$ more, but the Slim had floorboards, better rider ergonomics and an easy to upgrade engine.
Anyone who makes anything that inhabit the 650lb+ big cruiser and bagger market is making something expensive.
I think it's a lot of bike for the money compared to other makes and other Harleys as well.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,050
Likes: 19,177
From: The Wasteland
Agreed. No way Im paying that kind of scratch for a toy.
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